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Family in fatal crash was moving back to Fort McMurray, friends say

A woman killed with her sister in a horrific highway crash near Myrnam was in the midst of moving back to Fort McMurray with her two sons and their dog, grieving friends say.

Alana Yeo Wenger, 37, of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Amy Wenger, 32, of Victoria, B.C., died Wednesday when their northbound SUV was broadsided by a westbound semi-truck at the intersection of Highway 881 and Highway 45, 170 kilometres east of Edmonton.

Alana Yeo Wenger was driving the SUV. Her sons, ages eight and 12, suffered non-life threatening injuries. The younger boy was flown to the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton. His brother was hospitalized in Two Hills.

Their dog, Oliver, was later found dead a short distance from the crash site, under some bushes.

Alana Yeo Wenger's family is originally from Niagara Falls, but made their home in Fort McMurray. They had moved back to Ontario sometime after the May wildfire.

Friends on Facebook said the sisters were on a cross-country road trip, moving the boys and all their belongings from Niagara Falls back to Fort McMurray.

'I love you more than fresh air'

Eric Stiles, the husband of Amy Wenger, expressed his grief on Facebook.

"It is with great sadness to say that my best friend, wife, soul mate, partner, love of my life Amy Wenger was involved in a tragic car accident that took her life and the life of my sister-in-law Alana Yeo Wenger," Stiles wrote.

"May you rest in peace beautiful! I love you more than fresh air!"

News of the tragedy travelled quickly. Condolences and tributes on social media kept coming.

St. Michael High School in Niagara Falls published a post on its unofficial reunion page Thursday morning.

"We lost two beautiful Mustangs yesterday afternoon," Jenn Hann said of alumni Amy and Alana. "Our deepest condolences and prayers."

In another Facebook post, Sarah Iggers Moreau described Amy as "the best friend, always so fun and fun," and expressed shock that this could happen just days after she hosted her friend for a couple nights in Niagara Falls before the family left for Alberta.

"Your blankets are still in my living room and your Clamato is still in my fridge," Iggers Moreau wrote.

"You were so excited about the trip to Fort Mac. I'll always miss you."

Two Hills RCMP initially reported the dog was believed to have run away after the crash. They asked people in the area to watch for the animal.

"If he's alive, it would help to make this less difficult," family friend Tyler Beselt had told CBC News Thursday.

But Oliver was discovered dead under some bushes near the crash site, RCMP wrote in a statement Thursday night.

Beselt said the Wengers got the puppy when the youngest boy was four years old.